The worst interior design mishaps of the past 50 years revealed

Fashion has been nostalgic for the 1970s for the last few seasons, with tinted sunglasses, long floral dresses and straw handbags omnipresent on the high street and catwalks alike.

However, when it comes to interior design, the decade apparently fails to impress.

A new survey has revealed the worst interior design mishaps of the past 50 years, with furry toilet seat covers, beaded curtains and carpeted walls making the list as some of the greatest décor faux pas.

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Interior design experts from Wallpaper, Ideal Home and House Beautiful magazines collated a shortlist of the most unstylish interior design trends of the past half-a-century.

The order of the list was then determined by 2,000 individuals who took part in the survey, which was commissioned by Samsung.

The 1970s was voted as being the least fashionable decade when it came to interior design by 38 per cent of the participants, followed by the 1980s, which took home 22 per cent of the votes.

Toilet rugs or furry toilet seat covers were voted as being the ultimate “home horror” by 44 per cent, with 39 per cent selecting taxidermy as their least favourite home furnishing.

A quarter of the participants expressed their dislike for waterbeds, while just under a fifth affirmed their aversion to any products designed with an animal print.

The research was commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of its new QLED range.

The results have provided an illuminating insight into some of the most popular retro trends, such as avocado-coloured bathrooms and circular beds.

According to the study, some of the trends could have been influenced by TV shows such as Changing Rooms and Home Front that encouraged people to decorate their homes with rag-rolled walls and stencilling.

“I have lived through the 70s, 80s and 90s and seen interior design trends come and go and it’s fascinating how our tastes have evolved over time,” said Daniel Hopwood, president of the British Institute of Interior Design.

“Toilet rugs, rag rolled walls and TV cupboards should all be consigned to the dodgy décor history books.”

The list compiled by the survey has detailed a number of decorative trends that will likely not be making a comeback in the near future.

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Here are the top 25 biggest décor mishaps of the past 50 years, as stated by the study:

Toilet rugs/furry toilet seat covers – 44 per cent

Taxidermy – 39 per cent

Avocado bathrooms – 32 per cent

Floral ‘chintz’ furniture – 28 per cent

Waterbeds – 25 per cent

Artex walls and ceilings – 25%

Carpeted bathrooms – 25 per cent

Rag rolled walls – 23 per cent

Tribal carvings, masks and wall hangings – 23 per cent

Stone cladding – 19 per cent

Animal print anything - 19 per cent

Inspirational quote art stenciled on the walls - 19 per cent

Carpeted or textured walls - 19 per cent

Beaded curtains - 19 per cent

Living room bars - 19 per cent

Bidets - 17 per cent

Round beds - 17 per cent

Professional family portraits - 15 per cent

Shabby chic anything - 15 per cent

Shag pile carpets - 14 per cent

Wicker furniture indoors - 12 per cent

Wallpaper borders - 12 per cent

Curtain pelmets - 11 per cent

TV cupboards - 11 per cent

Stenciled walls or decals – 11 per cent

The survey also found that one in 10 Brits feel under pressure to redecorate their homes in order to impress house guests.